2014 Annual Grant Application Package Please return to: Sharon Education Foundation Grant Committee P.O. Box 470 Sharon, MA 02067 Deadline: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 SHARON EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANT APPLICATION 2014 WHAT IS THE SHARON EDUCATION FOUNDATION? The Sharon Education Foundation (SEF) enhances, enriches and supports public education in Sharon by funding educational, recreational and community programs that deliver innovation and excitement into the classroom and beyond. Our funding benefits all Sharon schools and our collaborative approach strengthens the entire community. Supporting Education Engaging Educators Funding the Future We encourage and invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance the educational experience of your students. WHO CAN APPLY? Sharon public school faculty and administrators, parents, students, and community members may apply for funding in support of enrichment projects and professional development that benefit Sharon Public School students. WHAT WILL BE FUNDED? SEF will fund a broad range of projects, including, but not limited to: those that focus on traditional academic subjects, visual and performing arts, promotion of multi-cultural and community learning experiences and professional development. Grant funds may be used for: • • • Innovative educational projects that fall outside the normal school budget Consultants, guest speakers, artists, or performers who assist the project’s implementation Tuition, training, and travel expenses related to the project’s goals; SEF will fund stipends of $25/hour for staff time beyond contracted hours, equipment*, materials*, and supplies required for carrying out the project. *Note: All equipment and materials purchased with SEF funds become the property of the Sharon Public Schools. WHAT WILL NOT BE FUNDED? Grant funds are not intended to replace or relieve existing responsibility for public funding of school programs, or to substitute for normal budget growth and maintenance. Priority will be given to new programs rather than existing projects already funded by other sources, though we will consider adding funding where funding from other sources does not fully cover the program or project. -1- Grants will not be awarded for: • • • • • Salaried positions Substitute teacher stipends Regular school activities and programs Retroactive compensation Capital improvements WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS? Please discuss your ideas with your school principal, curriculum coordinator and/or department head. All grant proposals must have a principal’s signature. Writing a grant proposal is straightforward. Simply fill out the attached application form and make sure that you clearly address all the points requested in the guidelines. WHEN AND WHERE IS THE GRANT APPLICATION DUE? The applications must be received on or before Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Please submit 6 copies of pages 4-8 to Sharon Education Foundation, P.O. Box 470, Sharon, MA 02067. We recommend that you retain a copy for your records. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR AWARDING GRANTS? In late May, the full SEF Grant Committee begins reviewing the grant proposals. The Committee meets several times to discuss each proposal before granting the final awards. If the Committee needs further clarification on proposals, the applicants will be contacted by email or phone. The Committee awards grants based on the merits of each proposal and the ability of the SEF to fund them. (Sometimes funds are not available to fully fund a proposal and partial funding is awarded.) Priority is given to proposals that: • explore new and imaginative curriculum ideas and teaching practices; • reflect the existing core values, curricular priorities, and goals of the school system; • directly impact a significant number of students and/or teachers over time; • can be replicated in other Sharon schools or classrooms. • WHEN WILL APPLICANTS BE NOTIFIED? All applicants will be advised of funding decisions via email by June 16, 2014. All grants are awarded for a full academic year. Funded projects may begin no earlier than the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2014, and should be completed by June 30, 2015. Grant recipients who need more time should request an extension in writing by April 30, 2015. Grant money will not be awarded for projects that have not met this requirement. -2- WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GRANT RECIPIENTS? In addition to implementing the proposed project effectively, all grant recipients are required to: • Complete an end-of-year status report by June 30, 2015 • Complete final accounting report by June 30, 2015 • Share feedback with the SEF Grants Coordinator • Seek approval from the SEF Grants Coordinator of any changes in the implementation or focus of the project by April 30, 2015 • Notify the SEF Grants Coordinator if you will be leaving the school system before the project is completed • Work with SEF to showcase the grant in the community • Publicize the project by means of the school newsletter, the Sharon Advocate, Sharon Patch (or other media). To aid SEF fund-raising efforts, please include the following statement when writing about a SEF grant: “This project is supported by a grant from the Sharon Education Foundation.” • Must display SEF banner at events/programs supported by grant dollars • Purchase only items approved by SEF • Have all invoices or receipts associated with the grant sent directly to SEF • Please do not send invoices or receipts directly to the Sharon Public School system. ALL INVOICES OR RECEIPTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT SHOULD BE SENT UNDER SEPARATE COVER TO: Treasurer Sharon Education Foundation P.O. Box 470 Sharon, MA 02067 -3- SEF ANNUAL GRANT APPLICATION FORM Please type or clearly print all information. Project Title: ____________________________________________________________ Amount of funding requested from SEF: __________________________________ Applicant name(s) and association with school(s): _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ School(s)/group(s) targeted for grant: _______________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Approx. # of students to benefit from the program/project: __________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Name(s) and Title(s) and School(s) or Other Affiliation of Project Leader(s): _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Contact person: _________________________________________________________ Mailing Address (Home or School): ________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ E-Mail Address*:________________________________________________________ Daytime Phone: ____________________ Evening Phone:______________________ * Please make sure that your email address is legible because you will be notified via this email address with a funding decision. -4- Annual Grant Application Form Commitment Letter Project Title: ____________________________________________________________ As the party(ies) responsible for the execution and administration of the proposed project, the undersigned agree to provide a detailed accounting of all Sharon Education Foundation funds expended as part of this grant. We further agree to submit both a final accounting (with appropriate documentation) and a final project report within thirty (30) days of completing this grant, but no later than June 30, 2015. I/We recognize that this report is a condition of funding. Applicant(s) signature(s): ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Date: _____________ Principal(s) signature(s): ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________Date: _____________ -5- GENERAL OVERVIEW Please provide an overall summary of your project in a paragraph or two and include the following: • • • How the proposal is compatible with SEF’s mission of enhancing educational excellence in the public schools How the program/project enhances student learning and/or improves teaching practice. (If this program is currently offered in the Sharon Public Schools, please explain the need for funding.) How the project reflects an innovative approach to educational issues and practices DETAILED DESCRIPTION Please describe your project in greater detail and include specific details on the following: • Goals/Outcomes o What are the goals of the project? o How do the goals of this project link with the Sharon school system’s or your specific school’s goals? o What are the expected outcomes and anticipated benefits of the project? • Target Population o How many students or teachers will benefit from the project? o Is this project replicable? If so, how can the project be reproduced in other classrooms or schools? • Activities and Timetable o What activities will be undertaken to achieve the project’s goals? o When will various stages of the project take place? o List each activity and the timetable for accomplishing it. -6- Project Title: ___________________________________________________________ Please be specific in your proposal’s projected budget. It is important that you supply clear and complete details in all of the information requested below. Is this an existing program? Yes ________ No _______ If yes, what was the previous source of funding? ____________________________ Have you requested funding from this source this year? Yes _______ No ______ If no, why not?_____________________________________________________________ Has this program been funded by the SEF in the past? Yes _______ No ________ If so, when? ______________________________________________________________ BUDGET Total Project Budget: Total SEF Funds Requested: $ _____________ $ _____________ Non-SEF funding* Name Funding Source below: $ _____________ ______________________________________________________ Expense Category Amount Requested from SEF Amount(s) Requested from Other Sources* Total Project Funding ____________ ____________ ____________ Materials** ____________ ____________ ____________ Equipment** ____________ ____________ ____________ Fees** ____________ ____________ ____________ TOTAL ____________ ____________ ____________ Honoraria Stipends** or *Possible sources of non-SEF funding may include PTO, public or private grants, etc. **Please itemize: materials, equipment, fees, and number of hours for stipends. -7- SEF APPLICATION CHECKLIST Please be sure that you: • Make 6 copies of pages 4-7 of your grant application. (We recommend that you keep a copy for your records.) • Complete all sections on the Grant Application Form. • Sign and obtain the appropriate principal(s)’ signatures on the Grant Application Form Commitment Letter. • Clearly address all sections of the General Overview and Detailed Description sections of your grant proposal. • Agree to the Responsibilities of the Grant Recipient. • Submit the grant application by May 27, 2014 We look forward to reviewing your grant proposal. If you have any questions or need clarification on anything about the grant application process, please feel free to email SEF at [email protected]. Thank you for submitting your proposal. We look forward to reviewing it. -8-